Improvement in abdominal corsets



1. W. ASKIE.

Abdominal Corsets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHhT W. ASKIE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSTTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ABDOMINAL CORSETS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,951, dated June 16, 1874; application tiled March 16,1874.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN W. AsKrE, ot Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Corsets, of which the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and exact specilication.

The nature and objects ot` my invention in detail are fully described below.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a corset embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view ot' the same. Fig. 3 is a side view.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate correspondin g parts.

a a are the pieces at the front of the corset, which form the breast-pads. They may be laced, hooked, or otherwise joined together, as desired. b I) are the two pieces which form the remainder of the body of the corset, and are laced a-t the rear. c is a support for the abdomen. This is a padded support attached rmly at one end, and capable of being lengthcned or shortened at the other, as necessity may require. It is particularly useful to women when heavy with child.

It will be seen, by reference to Figs. l. and 3, that the corset is left entirely open in front, between the breast-pads a a and the abdominal support c.

d d are removable armhole-pieces, attached to the body ot' the corset by buckles, buttons, hooks, lacing, or by means ot any other method. These are not shoulder-straps, those being injurious to the shape of the shoulder, but are merely armhole-pieces made detachable, instead of being a fixture upon the corset. e e are stiteners. The ordinary way of placing stilteners or whalebonein a corsetis to place itbetweeu the two thicknesses of cloth ot' which the cor-v set is made. In my corset but one thickness -of cloth need be used, and my stiffeners e are attached to and upon the outside of the corset. They are placed upon all portions of the corset. and may be attached by means ot clasps or clamps, as in f, Fig. 3,eyes, as in g,Fig. 3, or they may be sewed upon the corset, as in h, Fig. 3. They are susceptible of any method of attachment.

Figs. 5 and 6 show, respectively, a longitudv inal and a transverse section of my st-iii'ener, when attached to the corset by means of a clasp, f. c' represent strips of wire, leather,

. or other suitable stift'ening material, covered and attached to the outside ot' the corset. As

`many such strips c may be used as practicable.

k is an extensible and adjustable bustle or skirt-supporter, an interior detailed view ot' which is shown in Fig. 4. The rear side of the corset, as seen in Fig. 2, is made in two pieces, b b, as is also the pocket k', and pieces ot' rattan, reed, or other stift' material k" are placed therein,l and connected by means of the short tube k".

Thus, it' the bustle needs to be enlarged, the lacing, in the rear may be loosened andthe ends ot' the pieces kk" in the tube 7d drawn apart, as they are slightly in Fig. 4, and the bustle made any size. The two rear stiti'eners e e, which extend down to the bustle lc, are bent, (see Fig.3,) so as to raise the bustle somewhat.

The bustle 7c. and also the arlnhole-pieces d d and stitt'euers c c, may be used with any corset or stay, or similar garment, either for ladies or children.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The removable armhole-pieccs d d, con.- structed substantially as described, and but toned, laced, or otherwise attached to the corset a b.

2. The bustle 7c, consisting of pockets 7c and parts k 7c c", supported by bent stift'eners c c, and extensible by means of unlacing the two pieces b b, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A corsetopening entirely in the front below the breast-pads a a, and with or without the abdominal supporter c, substantially as herein specied.

J OHN YV. ASKIE.

VVtnesses:

N. AsKIE, H. W. WILLIAMS. 

